Cheapest Way to Keep Your Canadian Phone Number: Freedom, Chatr, Koodo and Lucky Compared

"I just want to keep my Canadian number as cheaply as possible." If you're leaving Canada, or you need a Canadian number for bank, government or app verification codes, you've probably had this thought. Freedom isn't the only option. Chatr, Koodo, Lucky Mobile, Public Mobile and SpeakOut, which you can buy in stores, are all worth a look. In short: an annual plan suits you if you'll keep the number for a long time, because there's less renewal to forget. A monthly plan suits you if your plans might change. Price isn't the only thing to check. Also ask whether you can still receive texts once you've left Canada, and whether you can manage everything by eSIM. This guide compares the main options fairly, explains what to check for keeping a number, and shows how to handle mobile data separately from the number itself.

This article was reviewed in September 2026. Carrier prices, SMS reception conditions, roaming and eSIM support are estimates based on what we checked in June 2026, and they may have changed since. Check each carrier's official website for the latest details before you sign up.

Why keep a Canadian number at all?

Most people keep a Canadian number for two reasons: to receive SMS verification codes, and to use the same number again when they come back to Canada. Canadian bank accounts, SIN-related services and many online services send a text to your Canadian mobile number when you log in or verify your identity. If you lose the number after you leave, you may get stuck at verification and struggle to manage your accounts.

On the other hand, if you rarely use Canadian services, or you can switch verification to your home-country number or an authenticator app, you may not need to keep the number at all. Start by asking yourself whether you really need it, then list which services are tied to it. This helps you avoid paying for something you don't use.

List the services linked to your number

These are the services that most often depend on your number:

• Online banking and credit cards (SMS verification at login)
• Tax and other government accounts (two-step verification)
• Social media, email and cloud services where your phone number is registered for two-step verification
• University, language school or workplace portals, and payroll or insurance contacts
• Ride-hailing, food delivery and shopping accounts created with your Canadian number

If any of these let you switch to an authenticator app or email, do that before you leave. It reduces how much you depend on the number. If a bank or government account can't be switched, or you're not sure how, keeping the number becomes much more worthwhile.

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What to check when keeping a number

If you choose on price alone, you may find out after leaving that texts don't arrive. Check these points first:

• Whether you can keep the number (and when it goes inactive or expires)
• Whether you can receive SMS (receiving abroad depends on plan conditions)
• Whether the price keeps your running costs low
• Whether roaming and Wi-Fi Calling are available, and on what terms
• eSIM support, which makes the line easier to manage from abroad without a physical SIM

Four things to compare besides price

It's tempting to pick the cheapest plan, but if you're leaving Canada, these points matter just as much:

• Can you confirm SMS reception abroad? A carrier whose official information or support can tell you upfront whether texts reach you outside Canada will cause fewer surprises later.
• Can you manage everything by eSIM? A physical SIM can be lost or damaged, or forgotten in a drawer after you swap it out. With an eSIM, getting a replacement from abroad may be easier (support depends on the plan and device).
• How much renewal effort is involved? An annual plan is harder to forget. A monthly plan means you need to manage a payment every month.
• Can you pick the number up again when you return? Check how easily you can move from a number-keeping plan to a regular plan. This makes your next stay easier to prepare for.

For more on phone numbers and SMS, see our phone number and SMS articles.

Number-keeping plans compared

Here are the main options from a number-keeping point of view. Prices and data allowances change, so treat these figures as rough estimates. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Carrier	Approx. price (CAD)	Monthly equivalent (approx.)	Data	eSIM	Highlights
Freedom (annual)	From $99/year	From about $8.25/month	Limited (higher tiers include more)	Supported	Calls and incoming texts make it easy to keep a number
Chatr (annual)	$159/year (40GB)	About $13.25/month	Included	On some plans	Annual plan that includes data
Koodo Prepaid	Monthly prepaid	—	Depends on plan	On some plans	A prepaid option
Lucky Mobile	From about $15/month	—	Limited and up	On compatible devices	Low-cost monthly
Public Mobile	From about $20/month	—	Depends on plan	On some plans	Managed mainly online

*Prices, data, eSIM support and SMS reception are estimates as of June 2026. Check each carrier's official site for the latest information.

Annual cost makes the difference clearer

When you compare monthly and annual plans, convert everything to a yearly cost. Using the estimates above, annual plans run about $99 to $159 a year. A $15 monthly plan comes to about $180 a year, and a $20 plan to about $240. These are only estimates from when we checked. Taxes and activation fees may be extra, so compare the total shown on the checkout screen. If you only want to keep the number, an annual plan or a prepaid option (see below) usually costs least. If you also want some data, an annual plan with data included is worth considering.

With number portability, you can generally move your number to a new carrier. You don't have to stay with your current carrier. Moving the number to a cheaper carrier is another way to cut costs. You usually need to do this while your current line is still active, and you may be asked for your account number or PIN. It's safest to do it while you're still in Canada and the line is live.

Annual or monthly: which suits you?

Choose annual if you'll keep the number for a long time, and monthly if your situation may change. An annual plan keeps your number for a set period with one payment, so you don't have monthly payments or renewals to forget. Freedom, for example, offers an annual plan that makes keeping a number easy. We explain how it works and what to watch at renewal in How to keep your Canadian number with Freedom Mobile's annual plan.

A monthly plan is easier to cancel or switch, which suits you if your plans aren't settled. If a payment fails, though, the number may expire, so you need to keep track every month. If keeping the number is your main goal and you'll hold it long term, go annual. If your needs may change soon, go monthly.

Still unsure? Ask yourself these three questions:

• Do you plan to return to Canada within a year? If so, an annual plan means less hassle.
• Once you've left, will you only use the Canadian number for SMS codes? If so, a cheap plan with minimal calls and data is enough.
• Might you decide within six months that you no longer need the number? If so, try a monthly plan first.

What happens to SMS verification after you leave Canada?

This is the biggest worry for most people. Whether you can receive texts on your Canadian number after leaving depends on your plan, roaming and Wi-Fi Calling conditions. Reception can't be guaranteed in every case.

In general, texts may arrive if the line stays active and supports SMS reception. But each carrier and plan treats reception abroad differently. Before you sign up, use the carrier's official information or support to check whether you can receive texts on this number while outside Canada. For practical tips, see How to receive Canadian SMS verification codes after leaving Canada.

Wi-Fi Calling vs. roaming

There are two main ways to receive texts on a Canadian number while abroad: international roaming and Wi-Fi Calling. Roaming uses a local mobile network in the country you're in to deliver your Canadian number's traffic. Supported countries, fees and prepaid eligibility vary by carrier. Wi-Fi Calling lets you handle calls and texts over Wi-Fi if your device and plan support it, and it may work abroad. Again, availability depends on the carrier, plan and device.

Check which routes work for you in advance. Either way, the setup is the same: use your local line or data as your main connection, and keep the Canadian line on your phone for receiving only. On a dual-SIM phone, you may be able to run both lines on one device (depending on the device). Test it once on Wi-Fi before you leave, such as at the airport, so you're not scrambling later.

Who these plans suit, and who they don't

Your priority	What to consider
Keeping a number as cheaply as possible	Compare Freedom annual, low-cost monthly plans (Lucky, Public) and SpeakOut
Some data as well	Chatr annual (includes data) is an option
Reliable SMS verification abroad	Check each carrier's SMS reception and roaming conditions
Planning to return to Canada	A plan that makes it easy to keep using the same number

Good fit for

• People who just want to keep a Canadian number cheaply
• People who need the number for SMS verification
• People who plan to return to Canada
• People whose bank or government accounts are hard to switch away from phone-number verification

Not a good fit for

• People who want a lot of data on their Canadian number (a regular Canadian plan may suit them better)
• People who rarely use Canadian services
• People who can switch every linked service to their home-country number or an authenticator app

Keep the number and your data separate

Number-keeping plans usually come with little data. If you want to stream video, use maps or tether freely while in Canada, it's easier to treat the number and your data separately. Keep the number on a cheap plan and add only the data you need with a data-only eSIM. That way you avoid paying for an expensive higher-tier plan.

Example: splitting roles on a dual-SIM phone

On a dual-SIM smartphone, you may be able to install both your Canadian number line (SIM or eSIM) and a Bloomy data-only eSIM, and give each a role. Set Bloomy as the default line for mobile data, and set your Canadian line for calls and SMS. This saves your number-keeping plan's data while you still receive SMS codes as usual. Supported models and settings vary by device, so check yours first on our eSIM-compatible devices page.

To set up Bloomy, tap the setup link you receive after purchase and follow the on-screen steps to add the line. Then turn it on when you arrive in Canada. See the setup guide for full steps, and troubleshooting if you can't connect.

An in-store option: SpeakOut (7-Eleven)

If you'd rather buy in person, SpeakOut, sold at 7-Eleven, is a low-cost option. It's an MVNO that runs on a major carrier's network, and its prepaid plans work well if you just want to keep a number cheaply.

• Top-ups are valid for 365 days. Amounts include $25, $35, $50 and $100. Each top-up is valid for 365 days from the last one, and your balance carries over. To keep a number, one minimum top-up a year is usually enough.
• Incoming texts are free. They're included in the plan, which makes SpeakOut handy for receiving SMS verification codes.
• Calls are pay-per-use. Local calls cost $0.30/minute, incoming and outgoing (at the time of checking). It suits people who mainly keep the number and get the occasional call.
• The number is reassigned 90 days after expiry if you don't top up. Plan on topping up once a year.

Unlike a monthly contract, a prepaid plan doesn't renew automatically, so you have to track the expiry date yourself. Add your top-up date and expiry date to your calendar. As with other carriers, receiving texts abroad and roaming depend on plan conditions, so check before you sign up.

*Amounts, validity periods, coverage and fees may change. Check the official SpeakOut website for the latest information (checked June 2026). SpeakOut is not a Bloomy service. A simple split: keep the number with SpeakOut or a similar plan, and get data from an eSIM.

Checklist before you leave Canada

If you wait until after you've left to think about your number, you'll have fewer options. While you're still in Canada, prepare in this order:

1. List your linked services. Write down every bank, government, social media, school or other account that verifies with your Canadian number.
2. Switch what you can. Move anything you can to an authenticator app or email first, and keep the number only for what still needs it.
3. Choose a plan and sign up (or port your number). Decide between annual and monthly, and eSIM and physical SIM. If you're porting, do it while the line is still active.
4. Check SMS reception abroad. Use official information or support to confirm roaming and Wi-Fi Calling availability and fees.
5. Note renewal dates and login details. Save your annual renewal date, prepaid expiry date and account login somewhere you can reach from abroad.
6. Test before you go if you can. On Wi-Fi, set the line as secondary and check that a text arrives.
7. Sort out data separately. Instead of relying on your number plan's data, choose the amount you need from our data-only eSIM comparison page.

Common mistakes (all avoidable)

• Choosing on price and not checking SMS reception abroad. Check each carrier's reception and roaming conditions.
• Missing the annual renewal date. Track it in your calendar.
• Overpaying by relying on the number plan for data. Use an eSIM for data.
• Losing the number to reassignment after it expires. Top up or pay before the deadline.
• Storing the physical SIM outside any device. Even if the line is active, texts won't arrive unless the SIM is in a phone. Keep it in a device as a secondary line.

Summary: decide your goal first, then choose

To keep a Canadian number, you can choose from Freedom annual, Chatr annual, low-cost monthly plans (Lucky, Public) and in-store SpeakOut. Prices change over time, so confirm them on official sites. Compare beyond price too, including SMS reception abroad and eSIM support. Most of these plans come with little data, so it makes sense to get data from a data-only eSIM. Decide first whether you only need the number or want data too, and you'll pick a plan that fits.

Your next steps: (1) check each carrier's prices, SMS reception, roaming and eSIM support on their official sites; (2) choose annual or monthly based on how you'll use the number; (3) remember you can port your number to another carrier; and (4) plan to add data with an eSIM while you're in Canada. If you're unsure how much data you need or how setup works, see our eSIM guide for Canada and FAQ.

This article is for general information only. Carrier prices, SMS reception, roaming and eSIM support change over time. Prices in this article are estimates based on information checked in June 2026, and the article was reviewed in September 2026. You may need to renew on time to keep your number. Bloomy is a data-only eSIM. It does not provide a phone number, SMS or regular voice calls, though app calls such as WhatsApp work over data, subject to our fair use policy. Connection quality depends on the local network, your device and the area. Check each carrier's official website before signing up. We cannot guarantee that you will receive Canadian SMS messages after leaving Canada.